Sheridan Smith was allegedly locked in her dressing room after an on-stage meltdown during Thursday's performance of Funny Girl.

The actress has denied accusations she was drunk during the West End production last week, but it has been claimed she was kept backstage after attempting to carry on with the show.

According to Mail Online, there was a lot of shouting from the leading lady, who is said to have left the room after someone went in to try and calm her down - and headed straight for the wings.

A witness said: "Sheridan ran to the curtain to try to lift it up, and carried on a four-letter tirade."

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It is claimed preparations for the understudy to take her place didn't go down well - although eventually the audience was sent home due to 'technical difficulties'.

Sheridan has had an incredibly difficult time recently, as her father continues to battle cancer - putting her under a huge amount of stress.

The performance of Funny Girl on Thursday evening was stopped after just 15 minutes then cancelled for "technical reasons" after a 40-minute delay.

Friday's show with Miss Smith went ahead as scheduled, and although the theatre blamed the cancellation on technical difficulties, members of the audience claimed the problem may lie with Miss Smith, who appeared to be slurring her words.

Sheridan has denied being drunk on stage (Image: Getty Images)

The theatre and a spokesman for Miss Smith strongly denied she had been drinking, saying: "I have spoken to my client and this is categorically not true."